In 1978, the ECMT Council of Ministers agreed that all Member Countries of
the ECMT would grant the same parking concessions to people with disabilities
as they offered their own nationals. These concessions usually allowed special
parking in areas reserved for people with disabilities, or allowed longer
parking periods or exemptions from charges.

This Resolution was updated
and extended in scope in 1997. In addition to all the Member countries of
ECMT this Resolution now applies also to the ECMT Associated Countries
(Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and United States). This
means that disabled motorists from all ECMT Member and Associate countries
are now entitled to the same parking concessions as nationals in all ECMT
Countries. The only condition is the display of a badge showing the
international wheelchair symbol.

In 1998 the EU adopted a
Resolution along the same lines for the Member countries of the EU.
The badges to be displayed are to be standardized to facilitate
recognition and to avoid difficulties at local level.EU Blue Parking Badge.

To facilitate the implementation of these decisions the following
information is provided to help people visiting the various countries
understand the local rules. At present different badges are used and
where this information is available these badges are shown.

This page describes what the concessions are, where disabled people
can park and where they can't.

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
marked with a wheelchair symbol.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited.

You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free
but restricted by time.

In most areas you must pay to park on roads where payment is
required. Check locally.

Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.

Parking in car parks: Some car parks allow vehicles
displaying a disabled person's parking card to be parked free of charge but
only in specific parking bays marked for disabled people. Check with car
park notices or ask an attendant.

Each provincial and territorial government legislates parking for people
with disabilities. Responsibility is then delegated to cities and municipalities
for enacting and enforcing their own parking bylaws. As a result, parking policies
for people with disabilities may vary somewhat from one jurisdiction to another.
There are, however, important common elements:

These designated parking spaces are marked by a traffic control
sign bearing the international wheelchair logo. Often, the international
logo is also painted on the pavement of the parking space.

The parking permit must be suspended from the rearview mirror or be
displayed visibly on the dashboard of the vehicle when it is parked.

A parking permit is awarded to an individual with a disability, rather
than a specific vehicle, and is for that individual person's use only.

The person with the disability must leave and board the vehicle while
it is parked in the designated parking space.

Reciprocal Recognition

Visitors to Canada must bring their valid parking permit from their home jurisdiction
with them and suspend it from the rearview mirror or display it in plain view on the
dashboard of their vehicle. Canadian jurisdictions will recognize disabled parking
permits from other Canadian provinces and territories, from the United States and
from Europe. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to comply with local
parking bylaws.

Contrary to most European countries:

In Canada, persons with disabilities cannot normally park their vehicles
in pedestrian zones or zones where parking is prohibited or restricted to
loading and unloading.

Permit holders are usually not exempted from paying parking meter fees
where such charges apply. It is recommended that visitors verify with local
authorities whether fee exemptions are available.

Canadian jurisdictions do not use time limitation devices, parking discs
or other devices in addition to the parking permit itself.

For more specific information on the policies of a particular Canadian jurisdiction,
visitors may wish to contact the parking permit issuing office of their provincial
destination:

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal RelationsWebsite:
English --
French
Contact Number:
902-424-5851
or 1-800-898-7668
E-mail: askus@gov.ns.ca

Nunavut

The Government of Nunavut has no territorial policy or parking placards for people with
disabilities due to its dispersed population. However, the City of Iqaluit provides disabled parking spaces.City of IqaluitWebsite
Contact Number: 867-979-5600 or 867-979-5677
E-mail: info@city.iqaluit.nu.ca

The Territory of Yukon does not have a territorial regulation on handicap placards.
Currently, only the City of Whitehorse has a disability placard program in place and it is administered
by the Bylaw Services Department.City of WhitehorseWebsite
Contact Number: 867-668-8317
E-mail:
bylaw.services@whitehorse.ca

People in wheelchairs are equipped with a card issued by the Czech Association
for Environment of Disabled People. The card consists of 4 pages:

The Title Page refers to the organisation issuing the card, the
card number, name and surname, the citizen's card-index number,
address, holder's signature and seal of the issuing organisation.

The Second Page refers to the benefits for the card holder.

The Third Page contains instructions for the card holder.

The Fourth Page indicates the validity of the card.

At present the card does not have a pictogram of a person in a wheelchair, but
later this year a pictogram - blue on a white background - will figure on the
title page.

This pictogram is already in use elsewhere in the Czech Republic (in the metro,
public areas, health institutes and transport infrastructure). It is regulated by
Decree No 30/2001 to the Act No 361/2000 Coll.

Parking regulations for foreign visitors

Foreign citizens using wheelchairs and/or with mobility handicaps, have the
same rights as Czech citizens in respect of parking, provided they are equipped
with the document issued by the authorized organisation. This is regulated by
Decree No 99/89 Coll., on traffic rules for road communications (the Traffic Rules),
issued by the Ministry of the Interior.

In brief, people with mobility handicaps may park their vehicle wherever parking
is generally permitted. As regards the parking fee, the owner of the parking place
determines the amount.

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
marked with a wheelchair symbol.

Parking discs are required when drivers park in areas that are time limited.
Foreign vehicles may display discs which are issued and accepted in the home
country.

Parking on roads

Vehicles displaying a disabled person parking card:

may park for 15 min on roads where waiting or parking is
prohibited. Parking discs are required;

may park for up to an hour where parking is limited to 15-30
min Parking discs are required;

may park for an unlimited time where parking is limited to up
3 hours;

may, in general on roads with parking meters only, park if the
driver pay according to how long the vehicle is parked. Though in
Copenhagen, vehicles displaying a disabled parking card may park
free of charge in public parking zones. Check locally.

may be allowed to drive and park in pedestrian zones. Check
locally.

Parking in car parks

In car parks where payment is required, the driver must generally pay
according to how long the vehicle is parked. Though in Copenhagen, vehicles
displaying a disabled person parking card may park free of charge in
public zones. Check locally.

Although there is a national system of parking concessions, local variations
can apply. Check locally. In Paris, vehicles displaying a disabled person's
parking car may be parked on roads free of charge.

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
marked with a wheelchair symbol on a vertical sign.

As a general rule, a wheelchair symbol is drawn on the
pavement but this feature is not imposed by regulation.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited.

You may park beyond the time limit on roads where parking is free
but restricted by time.

You must pay to park on roads where payment is required (except
in Paris).

Parking Badge: EU model. The recognition of badges from other EU member States
was established in 2000. Badge holders from other European countries have the same
parking concessions as French badge holders. France has implemented ECMT Resolution
97/4.

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
marked with a road sign (wheelchair symbol). Do not, however, park on spaces marked with a
parking card number reserving them for certain disabled people.

Parking on roads

You may park for up to 3 hours on roads where parking is
prohibited - also in no-parking zones.

You may exceed the allowed parking period on roads where parking is
restricted by time - also in restricted-parking zones.

You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads with
parking meters or pay-and-display parking.

You may park up to 3 hours in resident's parking areas.

You may park outside the marked spaces in traffic-calmed areas
without obstructing the traffic.

Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless it is expressly
permitted by local concessions. Check locally. For even if it is
permitted, you are only allowed to enter and park there during
specific vehicle access times.

The above regulations apply unless there is another parking facility
available at a reasonable distance. The maximum parking period is 24 hours.

Parking in private car parks

Ask the car park attendant on the spot whether disabled people are granted
parking privileges.

Reciprocal Recognition

Germany uses the EU model badge. ECMT Resolution has not been implemented. In
Germany, the Federal States (Bundesländer) are the appropriate authorities for the
surveillance of road traffic and they have rejected this in the past. Reasons
included likely difficulties caused by varying documents/badges (different style
etc.) and possible language difficulties.

Recommendation for disabled people from associated ECMT countries is to get in
touch with the local authorities responsible for road traffic at their place of
residence, to see what kind of special parking permission is suitable or if the
parking badge of the home country is sufficient.

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with
a person's name or vehicle registration number.

There are no concessions for street parking or parking in car parks.

You may park only where parking is permitted, and you must pay parking
charges and observe time limits.

In some car parks, payment concessions are given to vehicles displaying
the disabled person's parking card. Drivers should check with the car park
notices or ask an attendant for details.

Reciprocal Recognition

Parking badge: EU model. Road traffic and parking regulations of 1997 provides
for recognition of parking badges issued by authorities in any country across the
world. This provision is sufficiently broad to encompass the EU Recommendation
for the reciprocal recognition of the Community Model parking card. No express
reference is made to any particular measure in the 1997 regulation.

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with
a name or vehicle registration number.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited unless signs
clearly indicate otherwise.

You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free
but restricted by time.

You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads
with parking meters or pay-and-display parking.

Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless there is a
sign showing exemption. Check locally.

Parking in car parks

One in 50 spaces in public car parks is reserved for use by vehicles
displaying a disabled person's parking card. Vehicles displaying a parking
card may be parked there free of charge. If these spaces are occupied,
vehicles displaying a card may be parked in other spaces free of charge.

In some private car parks, vehicles displaying a parking card may be
parked free of charge, and often for longer periods than other vehicles.
Check locally.

Lithuania has not yet introduced the special Parking Card for people
with disabilities according the the European Union Council Recommendation
98/376/EC. According to the provisions of the Road Traffic Rules parking
privileges are applied for vehicles bearing the wheelchair symbol.

A person driving a vehicle with the wheelchair symbol is allowed:

To park in an urban area which has no special parking space if this
would not cause an obstruction for pedestrians and other vehicles;

To park in the area which has signs "No stopping (clearway)" and
"No stopping except for as long as necessary to set down or pick up
passengers (urban clearway)".

Reserved spaces for parking badge holders (known locally as the 'blue sticker') are
allocated in all localities on-street. Reserved parking spaces for parking badge
holders are also allocated in government owned off-street parking areas. Planning
regulations for major private developments with off-street public car parks require
the allocation of a proportion of the total public car parking spaces to be reserved
for parking badge holders. Reserved parking spaces for disabled persons are marked
with the wheelchair symbol and may be used by any person holding a valid 'blue sticker'
parking badge.

Parking in roads in controlled parking areas

Vehicles displaying a 'blue sticker' parking badge may park on-street in the
reserved spaces without time restriction in time controlled parking zones and without
a charge in zones that are controlled using time-based parking fees.

Parking in public and private car parks

Vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card may be parked free of charge
in certain localities or against the standard parking fee/time restrictions in
other localities.

Reciprocal Recognition

Parking badge: EU model

Malta has adopted Council Recommendation 98/376/EC and there is mutual recognition
of parking badges from EU countries. Regarding parking badges from non-EU countries, the
following provision of ECMT Resolution 97/4 would apply as there is nothing in law to state
the contrary:

"To give the same parking facilities to holders of this document coming from
another member or associated member country as they do to their own nationals".

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a
name or vehicle registration number. You may not use parking places reserved
for other vehicles or vulnerable users.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited.

You may park without time limit on roads where parking is
free but restricted by time, unless a time limit is specified
for vehicles displaying the disabled person's parking card.

You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads
with parking meters or pay-and-display parking.

Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.

You may park in residential areas where parking places
restricted in time has been introduced.

Parking in car parks

In many car parks vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card are
allowed to be parked free of charge and without time limit, but only in bays
reserved for disabled people. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant.

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
marked with wheelchair symbol or signs D-18, D-18b plus plate T-29.
A driver of a vehicle with parking card does not pay for ferry passage.

Parking on roads: A person driving a vehicle with a
disabled person's parking car is allowed (provided that he/she drives with
caution) to drive or park in the area which has following regulatory signs:

No vehicles

No motor vehicles

No bus

No motorcycles

No mopeds

No stopping

No parking during even days

No parking during odd days

Parking is restricted by time

Parking in car parks

Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled
person's parking card. Local authorities may establish: free parking only in
marked places, free parking in whole area, reduced charges for the first hour,
reduced subscription for parking.

On public roads and in car parks there are places designated for disabled
people. Such places are marked with the wheelchair international symbol and
they are provided for holders of a European Parking Badge. Under national
legislation, this badge is issued without considering either who drives or
who owns the vehicle, and it may be required by any disabled person, in order
to make it possible for them to be transported in another person's car.

The badge guarantees the right to park one's own car of another person's
car, both on designated places and places not designated for disabled people,
when it is absolutely necessary and for a short time period, since this
will not be to the detriment of the normal circulation of vehicles and
pedestrians.

The current Highway Code has created another possibility of parking on-street
and in car parks. Under this new disposition, disabled people have a right to
park either their own vehicle, or the vehicle in which they are travelling,
in new designated places provided in car parks and parking areas marked with
the wheelchair symbol, as well as two other pictograms: a pregnant woman and
a person carrying a child in their arms.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited.

You must pay to park on roads where payment is required and
must not exceed the time paid for.

You must not exceed time limits on roads where time restrictions
apply.

Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.

There are also parking regulations made by some local Councils,
providing disabled residents with restricted parking places close
to their residence and work place. These persons must comply with
the following conditions: to have a mobility impairment; to be a
vehicle owner; to possess the EU model parking badge.

Do not park where the space is marked with a name or vehicle
registration number.

On public roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
indicated by the wheelchair symbol. For parking in other places (including long term),
the parking badge must be displayed with a parking permit.

Parking on Roads

You can park for up to 2 hours in streets in which
parking is strictly prohibited (indicated by signs);

You can park for up to 6 hours in authorised parking
places in streets in which parking is free but time limited;

You can park for over 6 hours in streets in which
parking is controlled par meters or pay and display. The
decision on whether such parking is free is taken locally.
You need to check;

You can park for up to two hours in meeting/pick up
areas and in pedestrian areas to which access is permitted.

Parking in Car Parks

National parking concessions do not apply in private car parks. You need to check
locally on reserved places and charges.

Reciprocal Recognition

The badge is similar to that prescribed by the European Union. Switzerland has
implemented ECMT Resolution 97/4.

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
marked with wheelchair symbol.

While the Blue Badge disabled person's parking Scheme operates throughout the
United Kingdom, there are small variations in its application in England, Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In England and Wales the Blue Badge disabled person's parking card is used in
conjunction with a parking disc. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, there is no
time restriction on parking for Blue Badge holders. However, people from other
countries who display the disabled person's parking card in England and Wales
without a parking disc will be given the same conditions.

Parking on roads

You may park for up to 3 hours on roads where parking is
prohibited unless the signs say "No loading or unloading", unless in
Scotland or Northern Ireland.

You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads with
parking meters or pay-and-display parking.

You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free
but restricted by time.

Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless there is a sign
showing that vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking car
are exempt.

The Scheme does not operate fully in Central London. Check
locally in Central London about concessions.

Parking in car parks

Some car parks allow vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card to
be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant.

Reciprocal Recognition

Parking badge: EU model. The UK has not yet implemented ECMT Resolution 97/4
but it has taken the necessary legal powers and is committed to doing so. There
is no timetable yet for implementation.

In the United States, every individual State has its own rules and regulations on disability parking
permits, among other things. Each State has a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) which is usually the point
of contact for that State and any vehicle related questions, including disability parking permits.

Requirements for disabled parking permits for visiting overseas motorists vary from state to state.
Many of the websites of individual state Departments of Motor Vehicles provide information and/or application
forms for a disabled parking permit. ou may also check with your car hire company or contact a
state travel/tourism office.